Trust in social media hits record low amid fears over fake news

Facebook admitted that accounts were controlled by Russian entities seeking to influence the US presidential election in 2016DADO RUVIC/REUTERS

Trust in social media has fallen to a record low as Britons lose faith in companies such as Facebook and Twitter, according to research.

Fewer than a quarter of people trust the technology and publishing giants. Most Britons believe that such companies are doing too little to address extremism, tackle cyberbullying or prevent illegal use of their platforms, the world’s largest study of trust has found.

Sixty-four per cent want social media companies to face tighter regulation. There are continuing calls for them to be accountable for inappropriate content. The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer also found:

•Trust in traditional media such as newspapers and television has jumped 13 percentage points in a year to 61 per cent, a six-year high, as consumers look for reliable…